Leicester's Richard Cockerill pleaded not guilty but the RFU panel decided he had acted in an 'inappropriate and unprofessional' manner during the Premiership final against Northampton. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

The Leicester director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, has been suspended for nine games by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel after he was found guilty of using words that were "obscene, inappropriate and unprofessional" during the Premiership final.

The charge related to the clash between Leicester and Northampton on 25 May when Cockerill reacted to Courtney Lawes' tackle of Toby Flood and left his seat to discuss the incident with the fourth official, Stuart Terheege, on the touchline.

Cockerill pleaded not guilty to the charge but the RFU panel decided he had acted in an "inappropriate and unprofessional" manner and banned him until 3 November. He has the right to appeal.

Cockerill was also ordered to pay £500 costs. The ban means that the rookie coaching pair of Paul Burke and the former Leicester captain, Geordan Murphy, will take the reins for the start of the 2013-14 season.

The Northampton and England hooker Dylan Hartley was sent off during the Premiership final and subsequently ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia for calling the referee a cheat.